What better place to celebrate all cultures, ethnicities, races and religions than Salisbury, Maryland?
After hosting the National Folk Festival for five years, Salisbury’s own Maryland Folk Festival returns for a second time this fall.
Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming family-friendly festival, including who’s performing, when and where it’s happening, and more.
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When and where does the Maryland Folk Festival take place?
The Maryland Folk Festival — a lively, large-scale, multi-day open-air event with countless colorful and cultural musicians and artists — takes place on Friday from 6 p.m. to Sunday, 20-22 September 2024.
Hours are Friday 6:00pm-9:30pm, Saturday 12:00pm-9:30pm and Sunday 12:00pm-6:00pm. On Friday, the Heart & Sole Performing Arts tap dance team leads the parade at 6:00pm from the Plaza on Main Street to the Perdue Dance Stage.
The event takes place in downtown Salisbury, is free and suitable for all ages.
The aim of the festival is to create unique discovery and learning experiences, promote cultural and ethnic diversity, and embrace all opportunities to inspire and enlighten through music, dance and food, as explained online.
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Who will perform at the 2024 Maryland Folk Festival?
The Maryland Folk Festival brings artists from across the country as well as local celebrities to Salisbury.
The Locals Stage at Salisbury University — Musicians such as the Academy of Music Performance, Blind Wind, the Christine Havrilla Duo, Jonathan Zapuche and Wes Davis will be taking part — is sponsored by Salisbury University and the Fulton School of Liberal Arts at Salisbury University.
The list of singers and artists at this year’s Maryland Folk Festival includes:
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FLOWER OF TOLOACHE
Blending tradition and innovation, Latin Grammy-winning all-female group Flor de Toloache pushes boundaries with their edgy, eclectic and fresh take on traditional Latin music.
NOTHING BUT TROUBLE
Nothin’ But Trouble from Camden, Delaware, electrifies the audience with their musical mix of traditional blues, original melodies and good vibes.
Such fools
Salisbury-based band Such Fools came together to find a meaningful musical experience on the Delmarva Peninsula.
MAX ROSADO
Max Rosado is an award-winning salsa singer born and raised in Puerto Rico and currently living in Washington, DC
Melody Angel
Chicago-born Melody Angel’s stirring performances combine the deep roots of the blues with the consciousness-expanding ethos of Jimi Hendrix’s electric church music.
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REBECCA FRAZIER + hit and run
Nashville-based singer Rebecca Frazier and her band Hit & Run present a high-energy, female-led bluegrass and other show featuring award-winning musicianship and songwriting.
SEÁN HEELY CELTIC BAND
The Seán Heely Celtic Band’s song repertoire is rich in powerful vocal harmonies and includes Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) Songs, ballads, shanties, pub songs and more from the rich Celtic folk tradition.
Pine Leaf Boys
Louisiana’s finest band and a four-time Grammy nominee, the Pine Leaf Boys have made a name for themselves with their inimitable brand of Louisiana music that blends the sounds of Cajun, Zydeco, swamp pop, country and soul with youthful exuberance.
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BLINDWIND
Blind Wind is an award-winning father-son duo from Ocean City, Maryland, consisting of blind harmonica player Cole Moran and his father Frankie Moran.
CHRISTINE HAVRILLA DUO
Christine Havrilla, from Milton, Delaware, and Salisbury, Maryland, is wowing crowds everywhere with her musical innovation, soulful lyrics, and a guitar that’s simply an extension of herself.
KEN & BRAD KOLODNER
Dynamic father-son team Ken & Brad Kolodner weave a captivating soundscape on dulcimer and clawhammer banjo, blurring the lines between old-time, bluegrass and American roots music. Ken & Brad will also provide music for a special festival square dance on Saturday night.
DUPONT BRASS
DuPont Brass is a unique brass-driven supergroup from the Washington metropolitan area that blends various musical styles, including jazz, hip-hop and R&B, and goes by the name “Eclectic Soul.”
JONATHAN ZAPUCHE
Jonathan Zapuche began violin lessons at the age of 4 and has won numerous competitions in the US and Europe over the past nine years. In 2022, Jonathan performed at Carnegie Hall at the age of 13. He is currently the youngest violinist in the Peabody Youth Orchestra.
MARLEE
Marlee is a contemporary R&B/pop artist from Salisbury, Maryland who is quickly winning the hearts of fans around the world.
WES DAVIS
Wes Davis and his band connect their listeners with songs that touch the heart, evoke memories and inspire dancing.
Those interested in learning more about these artists and their stories can visit mdfolkfest.com/performers. Additional artists will be announced as they are confirmed.
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Storytellers and poets perform on the brand new Narrative Stage
Also new to the Maryland Folk Festival is the Toyota Narrative Stage, which will feature a diverse selection of storytellers, poets and panel discussions.
This year’s list of storytellers, poets and more includes:
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In “Come Here,” Ladd G. Colston will share his perspective as an inexperienced newcomer to Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and in “From Here,” Lexine Lowe will share her experiences growing up on the East Coast and how things have radically changed since then.
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Acclaimed young poets Sarah Brockhaus and Lisa Compo will read poems and discuss with Salisbury City’s first poet laureate Nancy Mitchell how the landscape of writing and publishing poetry has radically changed in the technological age, particularly since the advent of social media.
CITIZEN POETS: THE ROLE OF THE POET IN THE COMMUNITY
Widely acclaimed Poet Laureate Grace Cavalieri and Mitchell of Maryland will discuss how their service as Poet Laureate has enriched their lives and fostered connections in their diverse communities.
HAROLD “STONEY” WHITELOCK
Stoney Whitelock followed in the footsteps of his father, who became a skipjack captain at 16, and worked on the boats as a young man. He loved this lifestyle that connected him to his family and the community. A resident of the East Coast since birth, Whitelock is a fourth generation skipjack captain and will tell generations of stories and experiences on the water.
STOOP STORIES
Stoop Stories returns to the Maryland Folk Festival with Jessica Henkin and others. The Stoop Storytelling Series is a live show and podcast from Baltimore where ordinary people tell the extraordinary true stories of their lives.
TAHIRA
TAHIRA’s storytelling performances weave compelling stories and melodies from various regions of Africa, bringing to life the continent’s rich heritage and vibrant traditions. This performance was made possible by the Governor’s Commission on African Affairs in honor of Governor Wes Moore’s proclamation declaring September as African Immigrant Heritage Month in Maryland.
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Family area for even more fun: dancer and world-famous juggler
In the Richard A. Henson Family Area of the festival, the Great American Indian Dancers will treat festival-goers to an impromptu performance on Saturday and Cascading Carlos – The Juggler will perform on Sunday.
GREAT AMERICAN INDIAN DANCERS
The Great American Indian Dancers present live music, dance and storytelling from various tribes from across the United States.
CASCADING CARLOS – THE JUGGLER
Two-time Guinness World Record holder Carlos Mir, also known as Cascading Carlos – The Juggler, loves to mesmerize audiences with his high-energy, interactive juggling skills.
What is the weather forecast?
Weather will be updated as the Maryland Folk Festival approaches.
When you go
WHAT: Maryland Folk Festival
WHEN: 20-22 September 2024
WHERE: Downtown Salisbury
INFO: mdfolkfest.com
Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at [email protected].
